The Healing Hub: A Patient Navigation And Advocacy Initiative For Cancer Patients And Caregivers
A new patient navigation and advocacy platform is being positioned as a critical source of support for those affected by cancer and chronic illness.
Former Miss Universe Trinidad and Tobago, former Senator and cancer survivor Nicole Dyer-Griffith held a soft launch for the Healing Hub WhatsApp community, a patient-centred initiative founded to provide education, emotional support and guidance for individuals and caregivers navigating complex health journeys.
Cancer survivor Nicole Dyer-Griffith says the initiative grew out of her own lived experience with cancer, after being overwhelmed by requests for information and support from others facing similar challenges.
« Those of us who’ve had to manage this and who continue to manage it, we smile and we make it look good, but it’s not easy. It is not easy because when you peel back the layers, it’s like an onion. You peel back the layers behind that smile. It’s tough, it’s a challenge. And many times there are challenges that we don’t speak of. »
She was led to begin a moderated WhatsApp community aimed at ensuring patients are not left to navigate the health system alone.
« And you’d find that it is very tightly and keenly moderated and modulated to ensure that it doesn’t become overwhelmed with unnecessary information, but it is patient focused, patient driven and the Healing Hub was developed and I think has filled that gap quite successfully. So I’m pleased that we’ve been able to manage it. »
She says life-saving cancer medication can cost tens of thousands of dollars monthly, placing treatment beyond the reach of many patients.
« I want to recognise and thank the Government for stating that they are going to be looking into the cost of treatments, not only cancer treatments, but the cost of treatments across the board. »
Mrs Dyer-Griffith says her vision for the Healing Hub is to establish a physical centre in 2026 where patients and families can step away from clinical settings, ask questions without fear, and receive guidance in a safe, compassionate space.
« It has to be free of charge for persons in Trinidad and Tobago. It has to be. And in order to be free of charge, that means that I have to invest significant amounts of time, energy, and effort to ensure that we can get the support. »
Also speaking at the soft launch was the acting Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jeanine St. Bernard**; she says the Healing Hub is** a significant step in patient-centred care.
« While much attention is rightly placed on diagnosis, treatment and the clinical outcomes, we know that the journey does not end or begin in a hospital ward. Patients often face emotional distress, confusion about navigating the health system, financial strain and the heavy psychological burden that illness brings. Caregivers too frequently carry this burden quietly with limited support. This is where the Healing Hub fills a critical gap by offering education, guidance, emotional support and a safe space for dialogue. »
Dr. St. Bernard reaffirmed the Ministry of Health’s commitment to holistic healthcare, partnerships and patient empowerment beyond hospital walls.
